Indian military personnel, even if stationed in the Maldives, pose “no threat to civilians’ security”, the archipelago’s top police official said, as opposition parties intensify protests under the banner of the “India Out” campaign. The government this week plans to table a bill seeking to criminalize the campaign which, authorities say, is now threatening Indians working in the country’s service sector.

The remark by Mohamed Hamid, the Maldives’ Police Commissioner, came during the meeting of an inquiry committee the government has constituted to investigate the “India Out” campaign. Meanwhile, the vicious campaign, Home Minister Imran Abdullah said, is posing a "threat to civilians" as many Indians, working in the service sectors, are feeling threatened by the campaign. 

“We have not noticed in any of our works that Indian military personnel or individuals alleged to be Indian military personnel, being stationed in the Maldives could threaten the national security or the civil security of the country. We have not taken note of any such thing to date,” Hamid was quoted as saying by Sun news.

Under the anti-India campaign, opposition parties led by China-leaning former president Abdullah Yameen have been staging a series of protests to end what they call the presence of Indian military personnel in the Indian Ocean islands.

The campaign, the government claimed, is fueling hatred against friendly countries, endangering their sensitive diplomatic ties, and the archipelago’s own national security.

241 Committee, the Parliament Committee on National Security Services, launched an inquiry in the protest after Speaker Mohammed Nasheed filed a complaint. Both Home Minister Imran Abdullah and Police Chief Hamid were summoned by the committee in this regard.

The police chief’s remark came when Ahmed Usham, an opposition MP, asked him if the presence of the Indian military personnel could pose a threat to the security of civilians, reported Sun news.

Home Minister Imran Abdullah claimed that he didn’t know what opposition wanted to be outed when they say “India Out”.

“When calling ‘India Out’, it is not clear what has to be outed. Many projects pertaining to the Maldives are being carried out with assistance from India and its people,” the minister said during the committee hearing.

He told the committee that the government will not take any actions that could pose threat to the security of civilians.

During the meeting, the home minister admitted that things have reached the point that hundreds of Indians working in the service sectors, such as health and education, are feeling threatened by the hate campaign.

Individuals with criminal records, part of the “India Out” campaign, are now "posing danger to the life and properties" of people, he said. Earlier, there were instances of anti-India graffitis on the walls of schools and personal properties.
(SAM)